Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers (WGA):

Stuart Gordon (story) &
Brian Yuzna (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The most astonishing, innovative, backyard adventure of all time!

Plot:

Wayne Szalinski is your average "nutty scientist", working on a top secret machine which miniaturizes objects...

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Bee | Laser | Backyard | Shrinking Machine

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Rick Moranis	...	Wayne Szalinski
Matt Frewer	...	Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr. (Big Russ Thompson)
Marcia Strassman	...	Diane Szalinski
Kristine Sutherland	...	Mae Thompson
Thomas Wilson Brown	...	Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Jr. (Little Russell Thompson) (as Thomas Brown)
Jared Rushton	...	Ronald 'Ron' Thompson
Amy O'Neill	...	Amy Szalinski
Robert Oliveri	...	Nick Szalinski
Carl Steven	...	Tommy Pervis
Mark L. Taylor	...	Donald 'Don' Forrester
Kimmy Robertson	...	Gloria Forrester
Lou Cutell	...	Dr. Brainard
Laura Waterbury	...	Female Cop
Trevor Galtress	...	Male Cop
Martin Aylett	...	Harold Boorstein
Janet Sunderland	...	Lauren Boorstein
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Welker	...	(voice)
Patrick Brown	...	(uncredited)
Craig Richard Nelson	...	Professor Frederickson (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe Johnston

Writing credits (WGA)
Stuart Gordon		(story) &
Brian Yuzna		(story) &
Ed Naha		(story)
Ed Naha		(screenplay) and
Tom Schulman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Penney Finkelman Cox	....	producer
Jon Landau	....	co-producer
Thomas G. Smith	....	executive producer
Brian Yuzna	....	co-producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Hiro Narita

Film Editing by
Michael A. Stevenson

Casting by
Mike Fenton
Lynda Gordon
Judy Taylor

Production Design by
Gregg Fonseca

Art Direction by
Dorree Cooper
John Iacovelli

Set Decoration by
Macedonio Ramos

Costume Design by
Carol Brolaski

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	key makeup artist
Magdalena Eriz	....	makeup artist: Mexico
Esperanza Gómez	....	hair stylist: Mexico
Francisco Jaramillo	....	assistant hair stylist: men, Mexico
Lynn Del Kail	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Andrew Z. Davis	....	production manager
Vicente Escrivá hijo	....	production supervisor: Mexico (as Vicente Escriva)
Belinda Uriegas	....	production manager
David Hoberman	....	executive in charge of production: Walt Disney Studios (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mario Cisneros Jr.	....	first assistant director: Mexico
James Douglas Cox	....	second unit director: Mexico
David B. Householter	....	assistant director: second unit, Mexico
Miguel Lima	....	second assistant director: Mexico
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Carmen Avila	....	art department coordinator: Mexico (as Carmen C. Avila)
Ann Bruice	....	assistant designer
Charles Collum	....	construction coordinator
Carol Lee Davis	....	scenic painter (as Carole Lee Davis)
Brad Einhorn	....	property master
Martin A. Kline	....	production illustrator
David Lowery	....	storyboard artist
Antonio Mata	....	propman: Mexico
Rick Moore	....	storyboard artist
Phillip Norwood	....	storyboard artist
Moises Pineda	....	production buyer
Denise Pizzini	....	set dresser
David Russell	....	storyboard artist
Peter A. Tullo	....	props
John Naulin	....	insect construction supervisor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Neal Burger	....	dialogue editor (as Neal R. Burger)
Fernando Cámara	....	sound mixer: Mexico
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlyn Montes De Oca	....	assistant sound effects editor
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
William Dotson	....	sound editor
George Fredrick	....	dialogue editor
Scott Martin Gershin	....	sound designer
Avram D. Gold	....	supervising dialogue editor
Victor Grodecki	....	foley editor
Per Hallberg	....	assistant sound editor
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Chris Hogan	....	sound editor
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor
Lou Kleinman	....	dialogue editor
Mark Lanza	....	assistant sound editor
Mark R. La Pointe	....	sound editor
Greg Orloff	....	foley artist
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wylie Stateman	....	supervising sound editor
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Chesney	....	mechanical effects coordinator (as Peter M. Chesney)
Robert Clark	....	creature shop supervisor
Gunnar Ferdinandsen	....	mold maker
Linda Frobos	....	miniatures creator
Bruce D. Hayes	....	key mechanical designer (as Bruce Hayes)
Jurgen Heimann	....	special effects
David L. Hewitt	....	special effects
Sergio Jara	....	special effects coordinator: Mexico
James Kagel	....	miniatures creator
Jim Kundig	....	special effects
John McLeod	....	special effects foreman
David Mesloh	....	mechanical fabrication
Steve Sanders	....	model maker
Kirk Starbird	....	miniatures creator
Tim Turner	....	special effects assistant: giant insects, Roark Productions (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bob Ahmanson	....	optical effects crew
Dave Allen	....	stop motion animator/stop motion ant crew
Dave Allen	....	stop motion animator: ant sequence (as David Allen)
C. Mitchell Bryan	....	model maker
Lenny Dalrymple	....	optical effects crew
Mark Dornfeld	....	optical line-up
Roderic 'Mick' Duff	....	model maker (as Roderic Duff)
Syd Dutton	....	matte artist
Mark Freund	....	optical cameraman: Illusion Arts
Paul Gentry	....	visual effects director of photography
Craig Hayes	....	designer & constructor: scorpion
Steve Hyde	....	visual effects artist
Emmet Kane	....	optical effects crew
Debra Ann Klegman	....	model maker
Peter Kuran	....	special visual effects animation
Michael Lawler	....	visual effects cameraman
Lynn Ledgerwood	....	special rigging: Illusion Arts
Bernardo F. Munoz	....	optical effects crew (as Bernardo Munoz)
Michael Muscal	....	visual effects coordinator
Bradford Plows	....	model maker (as Brad Plows)
Mark Sawicki	....	matte photographer
Stephen Scheutzow	....	assistant visual effects coordinator
David Sosalla	....	miniatures supervisor
Tom St. Amand	....	stop motion animator
Catherine Sudolcan	....	special rigging: Illusion Arts
Kevin Swigert	....	optical effects crew
Byron Werner	....	rotoscope artist
Mark Whitlock	....	matte artist
Peter Anthony Zamora	....	model maker
Jammie Friday	....	animator: VCE, Inc. (uncredited)
Joseph Thomas	....	animation cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Michael Cassidy	....	stunt coordinator
Mickey Cassidy	....	stunts
Anthony G. Schmidt	....	stunts (as Anthony Schmidt)
Cherie Tash	....	stunts (as Cherie L. Tash)
Bob Yerkes	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Victor Abbene	....	chief lighting technician
Eric Anderson	....	camera operator (as Roy Anderson)
John Boccaccio	....	first assistant camera
James Campana	....	grip
Gustavo Covarrubias	....	dolly grip
Mark Anthony Crawford	....	electrician
Mariano Garcia	....	gaffer: Mexico
John Gazdik	....	first assistant camera
Paul Gentry	....	additional photographer (as Paul W. Gentry)
John Grillo	....	assistant camera
Heriberto Gutiérrez	....	first assistant camera: Mexico
Mark Gutterud	....	assistant camera
Jan M. Heyneker	....	key grip
Henner Hofmann	....	director of photography: Mexico
Henner Hofmann	....	director of photography: second unit
Antonio Jara	....	key grip: Mexico
Edgar Ladrón de Guevara	....	still photographer
Adolfo Lara	....	best boy: Mexico
Brett Laumann	....	electrical best boy
Michael Maley	....	camera operator
Michael Maley	....	gaffer
Paul Marbury	....	first assistant camera: Mexico
Steve Mathis	....	gaffer
Robert Neville	....	best boy electric (as Robert S. Neville)
Clint Palmer	....	first assistant camera
Salvador 'Apache' Serrano	....	dolly grip: Mexico (as Salvador Serrano)
Jorge Suarez	....	assistant camera
Steve Venetis	....	electrician
Thaddeus Wadleigh	....	grip
Emmanuel Vouniozos	....	on-set technician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Mike Hyatt	....	rotoscope artist
Brian Jennings	....	digital animator: title sequence
Brett B. White	....	animation assistant
Brett B. White	....	assistant to animator
Kevin Kutchaver	....	animator (uncredited)
Pat Sito	....	checking: title sequence (uncredited)

Casting Department
Claudia Becker	....	casting: Mexico
Jory Weitz	....	casting: New York City

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robin Lewis-West	....	costume supervisor
Abel Melo	....	wardrobe master: Mexico

Editorial Department
Carlyn Montes De Oca	....	assistant film editor
Lucy Hofert	....	assistant editor (as Lucy Hofert Rose)
Jacqueline Kinney	....	apprentice editor
Edgar Pavon	....	assistant editor: Mexico
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer
Carlos Puente	....	assistant editor: Mexico
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter
William M. Steinberg	....	first assistant editor
James B. Woodson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Greig McRitchie	....	orchestrator
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer
Frank Welker	....	special vocal effects
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Alejandro Ayala	....	production assistant
Lisa Bailey	....	assistant to producers
Marilyn Bailey	....	script supervisor
Spence Bovee	....	production assistant
G. Spencer Boye	....	production assistant
Kenni L. Brodeck	....	production assistant (as Kerri L. Brodek)
Blair Clark	....	armature machinist
Robin L. D'Arcy	....	production coordinator: Mexico (as Robin D'Arcy)
Ricardo Del Río	....	coordinator: Walt Disney's Imagineering
Philip Elins	....	production assistant
Bruce Evans	....	production consultant
Lynne Ferry	....	production assistant
Raynold Gideon	....	production consultant
Gabriela Gurrola	....	continuity: Mexico
Carol Juk	....	production secretary: Mexico
Kysta Kawasaki	....	production assistant
G. Pekas Lozano	....	production office assistant
Paul J. Memmi	....	translator
Cecilia Monterrubio	....	chief accountant: Mexico
Susanne Pastor	....	assistant: Tom Smith
Sharon L. Simon	....	accountant (as Sharon Simon Rellick)
Garrison Singer	....	production accountant
Wesley Staples	....	studio teacher
Ian Underwood	....	synthesizer effects
Alejandro Uriegas	....	production assistant
Belinda Uriegas	....	production office coordinator: Mexico
Sabra Van Dolsen	....	script supervisor
Glenn L. Whiteford	....	production assistant
Dale Wilmarth	....	moldmaker
Mark Bryan Wilson	....	puppeteer: Mexico
Gerardo Yubero	....	assistant accountant
Lisa S. Girolami	....	production executive (uncredited)
Harry Kopoian	....	airport liaison: Mexico (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Buena Vista Pictures
• Doric Productions
• Silver Screen Partners III
• Walt Disney Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1991) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1990) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1989) (UK) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Egmont Films (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1993) (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Hollywood Optical Systems (optical compositing)
• Image Engineering (special effects)
• Tippett Studio
• VCE (optical compositing)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles
• Frank Inn Inc.  animal trainers
• Illusion Arts  matte painting
• Kroyer Films  main title animation
• Rain Bird  sprinklers
• TAJ  foley recording

Also Known As:

Grounded (USA) (working title)
Teenie Weenies (USA) (working title)
The Big Backyard (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/6 | Finland:K-10/7 (1989) | Finland:S (1990) | Peru:PT | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | France:U

Filming Locations:

Estudios Churubusco Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Buena Vista Pictures

Trivia:

The animated short Tummy Trouble (1989) was released theatrically with this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: From the window's side of Russell and Mae's bedroom, their bed is on the left side of their room, but when they are talking about little Russell, the bed is on the right side. Everything in the entire bedroom has switched sides from the first scene when Russell opens up his window to yell at Wayne.

Quotes:

[after their visit with the Szalinskis]
Mae Thompson: I thought you didn't believe him.
Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr.: Oh, I don't. Electricity's cheap.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Theme from 'Amarcord'

Fond memories of those summer days when it was too hot to go outside

Leave it to Disney to give us a friendly mad scientist in the form of Rick Moranis, who plays an affable, amiable absent minded professor family man by name of Wayne who's latest invention, kept in the attic, is designed to shrink things down. Alas, he's not having much luck with it, as his initial test subject, an apple, gets blown up. Later, one of his neighbor's sons, Ron, hits a baseball through Wayne's window while he's out at giving a science presentation and when Ron's older brother Russ sends him to fetch it with Wayne's son Nick they get shrunk thanks to the baseball whacking the machine. When Russ goes up with Nick's older sister Amy they get shrunk too, along with a chair and Wayne's thinking couch. Unfortunately, a frustrated Wayne, unaware of what's happened, comes home and demolishes his machine and accidentally throws out his kids and his neighbor's (Matt Frewer of TV's Max Headrome fame) with the garbage. It is not until Wayne starts cleaning up the attic that he discovers the shrunken couch and chair (which he steps on) and realizes that his missing kids were shrunk by it and that he threw them out with the trash. So while Wayne embarks on a series of unsuccessful attempts to find his kids without stepping on them, the kids must make a dangerous trek through the uncut back yard, encountering "giant" toys, food, bees, ants, lawnmowers and, strangely enough, a scorpion (someone's escaped pet?).

Good fun, and a lot less cynical than a lot of today's youth oriented adventure films. And of course, the message of family values and how it's important for dads to understand their kids in addition to spending time with them, is also present, but never overly preachy.